Moroccan minister threatens to resign

Sbihi stresses that strong cultural links are needed Rabat - Manal Wahbi Moroccan Minister of Culture, Mohamed Amine Sbihi has threatened to resign for fear he may not be able to fulfill his obligations. The minister also mentioned that his department budget is 0.3 percent of the balance of the state. Not the one percent promised by Prime Minister, Abdelilah Benkirane. Sbihi’s statements came at the International Book Fair, during a seminar on cultural policies. “If I do not fulfill my commitments, I will be the first person to withdraw from government,” he expressed. He revealed that major cities have failed to cooperate fully in implementing cultural strategy, leaving plans for making Morocco a Capital of Culture by 2020 waning. “There are too few cultural institutions,” claimed Sbihi, “Our support mechanisms have become outdated and we need to review our structure.” Sbihi stressed that strong cultural links are needed, as they have a positive impact on communities.